Port Blair, April 21: Considering the sudden rise in the COVID-19 positive cases in the South Andaman District and to contain its further spread, the District Magistrate South Andaman has ordered the following precautionary measures to be strictly complied with in busses (both public and private) and also by the Shopkeepers/ vendors in the market areas in South Andaman District.

Busses: The bus staffs are to be screened of ILI/ SARI symptoms atleast twice a day i.e. at the time of reporting and discharge from duty by an IR thermometer. Suspect/ symptomatic cases should not be allowed to perform duty and should instead be isolated and referred to the District ILI/ SARI Control Room No. 03192-238881 for further management and testing for COVID-19.

The passengers boarding the busses should be screened by the conductor of the respective bus for ILI/ SARI symptoms by an IR thermometer and suspect/ symptomatic cases should be conveyed to the District ILI/ Sari Control room.

Sufficient sanitizers should be provided in the operational busses for hand sanitization of all the passengers at the time of boarding.

COVID appropriate behaviour should be ensured in the busses as per the norms/ guidelines of the MHA/ MoH&FW and no passenger who is without a face mask/ cover should be allowed to board the bus. Regular sanitization of the Buses should be carried out by Hypochlorite solution/ prescribed solution and frequent contact surfaces like hand rails, seat handles, window knobs etc. should be sanitized at regular intervels.

Markets: Vendors in the markets shall be screened for ILI/ SARI symptoms twice a day by the trained staff of the PBMC i.e. once in the morning and in the evening. Suspect/ symptomatic cases should thereafter be referred to the District ILI/SARI Control Room for further follow up.

Regular screening of the persons visiting the markets should be conducted by trained persons of the PBMC using IR thermometers. Suspect cases/ persons with ILI symptoms should be immediately referred to the District ILI/ SARI Control Room.

Sanitizers are to be kept by the vendors for use by the visiting customers and in case of markets/ sheds with access control, sanitizers in sufficient numbers should be kept at the entrance for use by the public.

It shall be ensured that social distancing norms are strictly followed at the markets as per the norms/ guidelines of the MHA/ MoH&FW.

All shopkeepers / vendors should not allow more than 5 persons at a time in their shops to prevent crowding. No vendor/ customer shall be allowed in the market without face cover/ mask.